Biggest Reaches:
25th Overall: QB Jaxon Dart to the New York Giants
The consensus QB3 on most boards, I had Dart as a Round 3 prospect (but would likely go Round 2 knowing QB inflationary value in the Draft.) He is a fine game manager, with good accuracy and decision-making combined with a decent arm. But his troubles in throwing off platform and out of structure, both when the pocket breaks down and when he is asked to make a 2nd read, lower his ceiling considerably for a player who lacks any elite standout traits.
The Giants opting to trade back into Round 1 to take Dart instead of Shedeur Sanders will be talked about endlessly this offseason (and potentially beyond), as this regime’s jobs now hinge on Dart.
11th Overall: EDGE Mykel Williams to San Francisco 49ers
Mykel Williams certainly brings a high athletic ceiling and an immediate ability to set a hard edge in the run game, but to take him that early was bold to say the least. Being the 2nd EDGE off the board after Abdul Carter went 3rd Overall certainly raises expectations.
The 49ers do love to bank on athletic traits with their early round DL picks, but with very mixed results. If Mykel develops as a pass rusher then this pick will look like a stroke of genius. If not, the 49ers got a Kwity Paye level Edge just outside of the Top 10 in the draft.
12th Overall: G Tyler Booker to Dallas Cowboys
Tyler Booker is perhaps the best pure Guard (non Tackle versatility) prospect in the class, with immense power and technical refinement that manifests in excellent production as a pass blocking guard and gap-scheme run blocker. However he was a late Round 1-mid round 2 prospect on most boards due to his inability to get out in space and get to the 2nd level effectively, limiting his pulling or zone blocking ability.
The Cowboys ran a very Zone heavy rushing attack, and if that doesn’t change Booker will be an awkward fit for the style of play the Cowboys plan on running on the ground.
28th Overall: DT Tyliek Williams to Detroit Lions
Williams is an interesting fit for the Lions with his powerful and violent playstyle that does very well against the run. However his lack of length, lateral agility, and inconsistent hinders his pass rush on tape. He had a Round 2 draft grade and was taken at the end of Round 1 with plenty of other higher ranked players on the board, including several Defensive Tackles.
Pairing him with Alim McNeil and DJ Reader forms a fun DT trio, but better values were left on the board.
Best Values:
14th Overall: TE Tyler Warren to the Indianapolis Colts
The Colts headed into the draft with an obvious need at Tight End after years of bad play at the position via a heavy rotation. They had long lacked a single TE who could combine the dynamic threat of a pass catcher like Eric Ebron (2018) and the blocking ability to help spring open their run attack like Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox, and Andrew Ogletree to stay on the field all the time as a starting Tight End. After trying to trade for Brock Bowers last season, They got just their well-rounded and potentially dominant TE1 in Tyler Warren.
As a giant target with powerful and reliable hands combined with the 2nd most missed tackles at the Tight End position this past season and strong size and physicality as a blocker, Warren is a strong fit for the Colts. Just because it is what many mocks predicted doesn’t mean the pick is only at value, as Warren is a consensus top 10 player in the class and fell to 14.
20th Overall:CB/S Jahdae Barron to the Denver Broncos
The highly versatile and dynamic Barron falling to the Broncos is a nightmare for AFC West QBs Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes. Barron’s ability to play outside or inside at corner or safety give the Broncos a lot of options in how to attack certain matchups vs QBs, and he provides reliable downhill tackling to stop the run at either spot.
Arguably the best Corner in the draft not named Travis Hunter, pairing Barron with superstar CB Patrick Surtain II helps the Broncos round out their secondary into a unit that could do well even against some of the best QBs in the AFC.
27th Overall: S/Nickel CB Malaki Starks to the Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of versatile Defensive Backs who fell in the draft to pair with great DBs in their new homes, the Ravens did it again. Starks had a case as a top 10 player in this class with his ability to line up at either safety spot or in the nickel, his great game speed, instincts, IQ, and reliable tackling.
Pairing Starks with Kyle Hamilton at Safety is a dynamic duo of young DBs who can lineup anywhere and thrive in a multitude of assignments and roles in different coverage concepts. A creative DC will have be living the dream with these two patrolling various levels of the Defense. Getting Starks at 27? Feels like highway robbery.
31st Overall: LB Jihaad Campbell to the Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles do this… EVERY. YEAR. Someone who shouldn’t be where they pick falls right in their lap and they just scoop him up and get an impact player. It happened with Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean most notably over the last few years. Campbell was the top offball LB on most teams boards, combining excellent range and instincts with reliable tackling, devastating blitzing as a former Edge rusher turned Linebacker, and surprisingly very effective coverage ability.
Pairing him with a fellow Edge rusher turned offball Linebacker who just became an All Pro in Zach Baun is nasty work. The rich get richer. He fell due to a Labrum injury suffered during the pre-draft process, but could be ready to go by camp at the earliest and the Labrum injury in his shoulder won’t affect his range, speed, or fluidity.
32nd Overall:T Josh Simmons to the Kansas City Chiefs
Simmons had a case as the best Tackle prospect in the draft on tape. He looked dominant at Ohio State against some of the best competition you can find at Edge. However a devastating patellar injury in October caused his stock to tumble, allowing him to be snatched up the Kansas City Chiefs at the very last pick in Round 1.
If he can bounce back from his injury, the NFL potentially just let the Chiefs get Mahomes’ next franchise blindside pass protector. Giving Mahomes more time in the pocket is a dangerous prospect for the rest of the NFL to have to deal with.
Biggest Surprises:
26th Overall: Falcons Trade Up for James Pearce Jr.
The Falcons took with their own pick Georgia Edge Rusher Jalon Walker, and decided that still wasn’t enough Edge talent for them in their mission to rebuild their defense. Taking James Pearce Jr., the leader of the 2025 Draft class in Pass Rush Win Rate (despite clear areas of development needed), at 26th Overall wasn’t bad value for the draft spot. But trading away:
- Round 2, Pick 46
- Round 7, Pick 242
- Falcons 2026 1st Round pick
To get the 26th overall pick that was spent on Pearce Jr. (as well as a Round 3, 101st Overall pick) was bad value.
Pearce is a risky pick with his off the field questions of maturity and game prep habits combined with clear areas of development needed in pass rush game plan, move variety, power, and motor. If he doesn’t hit and/or the Falcons struggle this upcoming season losing that 2026 Round 1 pick may be costly. If he does hit and the Falcons take a big step forward in 2025 though, no one will care about the trade cost.
No Shedeur Sanders
Sanders was the consensus QB2 of the Class, and while there was rampant debate on what his grade is in the draft community (ranging from Round 1 to Late Round 2 Grades), the inflationary effect of being a QB meant few thought he would still be waiting to be picked on Friday.
And yet, QB needy teams like the Browns, Raiders, Saints, Giants, and Steelers all passed on the Colorado QB in Round 1. The Browns do have 2 picks early in Round 2 (1st and 4th earliest picks to start the day), and the Raiders and the Saints still have early Round 2 picks as well to take him. I suspect he won’t have to wait for long to be taken today.
2nd Overall: Jaguars Trade Up for Travis Hunter
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a lot of needs to address heading into the draft, and they were able to kill two birds with one stone in drafting the top WR and CB in one with Travis Hunter. There was talk of the Jaguars trying to get Hunter earlier in the week and negotiating to trade up to get him, but them actually executing the trade and giving up so much to do so was shocking.
The Full Trade:
Jaguars Get:
- 2025 Round 1, Pick 2 (Travis Hunter)
- 2025 Round 4, Pick 104
- 2025 Round 6, Pick 200
Browns Get:
- 2025 Round 1, Pick 5 (Mason Graham)
- 2025 Round 2, Pick 36
- 2025 Round 4, Pick 126
- 2026 Round 1 Pick (Jaguars)
Per Drafttek’s Trade Value Chart, the Jaguars got 2,699 Draft Pick Trade Value Points out of their deal, while the Browns (assuming the Jaguars Round 1 pick is an average Round 1 pick) got 3,286 Draft Pick Trade Value Points. The difference in those figures is equal to the 32nd Overall Pick’s value. Should the Jaguars struggle once again in 2025 despite adding Hunter, that future pick to the Browns will be even more valuable.
The pressure is on the Jaguars and Hunter. They need a big jump in 2025 as a team and for him to be every bit the star-blue chip talented player that he is advertised to be. Otherwise, the trade cost to acquire him could set them back until 2027 when they have their full assortment of picks back in a draft.
Top Players Remaining for Day 2:
- Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
- Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Luther Burden III, WR, Mizzou
- Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
- Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
- Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
- Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
- Shavon Revel, CB, Eastern Carolina
- Nick Emmanwori, S/LB/CB, South Carolina
- Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
- Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
